a) Birdloop - Trail asphalt replacement, and
meadow/mound irrigation are in the
2015-16 capital budget. Additional projects TBD.
For the asphalt trail, the Projects
manager would like to get together again with Audubon to
discuss exactly what should be done now versus what could be
done when the whole boardwalk is rebuilt. They have a new
engineer, and they are considering an interim surface of
crushed gravel. Possible future idea would be to extend the
boardwalk over much of what is now pavement. There was
broad support for a crushed gravel surface, at least for the
interim. Greg suggested that the meeting be held soon, or
bypass a meeting entirely and get on with the project while
the weather is good.
Heronry fencing will come down this weekend. Greg has
suggested that the fencing be permanent, but Jim Trockel
says the effort to put the fencing in and remove it is not
very great.
b) Noxious Weeds - Thistle fall spraying will
happen later in the East Meadow; in the meantime EAS can pull if possible.
Purple and Garden Loosestrife spraying has been conducted on
some areas of the slough. Annual willow trimming will be
happening soon in the transition zone.
c) Community Gardens –
So far, 648 community service hours for Food Bank
garden. 300 lbs. ahead of last year in Food Bank
donations. MCGA is concerned that their water bill will
be very high this year. Full, and waiting list, but ADA
beds are open. Currently using ADA beds for Food Bank
garden. Have found that some of the ADA beds are poorly
designed and dry out too quickly because there’s not
enough soil. MCGA requests that the split-rail fencing along Snag
Row be repaired or removed, and also request additional portapotty service. Would like a sandwich board to
emphasize parking lot is for gardeners only. They
have had
at least 15 incidents of vandalism and/or produce
theft. Poppy plants have all been pilfered. Greg was
interested in whether there is a correlation between
concerts (and/or other events) and vandalism; if so,
then maybe the event promoter might be approached about
how to deal with this.
d) East Lake Sammamish Trail construction - The
North Sammamish section of the trail has been paved and is
opened. This means you can go from Marymoor south to
at least the Sammamish Landing Park.
e) Clise Mansion - meeting tomorrow with CIP to go
over plans. Have had good input from a long-term
caterer. Heat pump replacement may go forward
replacing one each year (there are seven), rather than
replacing them all at once. But there may be a big
county project to replace them; the Clise ones
might fall under that project.
f) Parkour Course - project
discontinued; reducing the scope and expense of
the course made it non-viable.